Canister purge valve noise attenuation

Abstract

A valve assembly and method for regulating a fluid flow and attenuating noise. The valve assembly comprises a body having a passage extending between a first port and a second port, a seat defining a portion of the passage, a member movable with respect to the seat, an actuator moving the member from the first configuration to the second configuration, and a damper movable with respect to the actuator and located at a radial gap between the member and the actuator. The member moves generally along an axis between a first configuration prohibiting fluid flow through the seat and a second configuration permitting fluid flow through the seat. The member includes a first portion adapted to sealingly engage the seat in the first configuration, and a second portion extending along the axis between a first section that is distal from the first portion and a second section that is fixed to the first portion. The actuator has an aperture extending along the axis and generally receiving the second portion. The aperture includes a first segment generally guiding movement of the first section, and a second segment generally guiding movement of the second section.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A valve assembly for regulating a fluid flow, the valve assembly comprising: 
       a body having a passage extending between a first port and a second port;  
       a seat defining a portion of the passage;  
       a member movable with respect to the seat, the member moving generally along an axis between a first configuration prohibiting fluid flow through the seat and a second configuration permitting fluid flow through the seat, the member including:  
       a first portion adapted to sealingly engage the seat in the first configuration; and  
       a second portion extending along the axis between a first section that is distal from the first portion and a second section that is proximate to the first portion;  
       an actuator moving the member from the first configuration to the second configuration, the actuator defining an aperture extending along the axis and generally receiving the second portion, the aperture being defined by:  
       a first segment generally guiding movement of the first section; and  
       a second segment generally guiding movement of the second section; and  
       a damper movable with respect to the actuator and located at a radial gap between the member and the actuator, the damper and the first portion being contiguously engaged and being defined by a single homogeneous part.  
     
     
       2. The valve assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises a resilient member located at the second section of the member. 
     
     
       3. The valve assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the second segment of the aperture is defined by a projection into the radial gap, and the projection contiguously engages the resilient member as the member moves at least toward the second configuration. 
     
     
       4. The valve assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the member further includes a third section interposed along the axis between the first and second sections of the member, the third section of the member has a first cross-section that is transverse with respect to the axis, and the resilient member has a second cross-section that is transverse with respect to the axis, the second cross-section being larger than the, first cross-section. 
     
     
       5. The valve assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the first section of the member has a third cross-section that it transverse with respect to the axis, the third cross-section being larger than the first cross-section. 
     
     
       6. The valve assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the resilient member comprises a fluorocarbon elastomer material. 
     
     
       7. The valve assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises a viscous fluid in the radial gap. 
     
     
       8. The valve assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the radial gap is between the first section of the member and actuator. 
     
     
       9. The valve assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
       a biasing member disposed between the member and the actuator, the biasing member being located in a pocket and moving the member from the second configuration to the first configuration.  
     
     
       10. The valve assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the viscous fluid is in the pocket and in an axial gap between the member and the actuator when the member is in the first configuration. 
     
     
       11. A valve assembly for regulating a fluid flow, the valve assembly comprising: 
       a body having a passage extending between a first port and a second port;  
       a seat defining a portion of the passage;  
       a member movable with respect to the seat, the member moving generally along an axis between a first configuration prohibiting fluid flow through the seat and a second configuration permitting fluid flow through the seat, the member including:  
       a first portion adapted to sealingly engage the seat in the first configuration; and  
       a second portion extending along the axis between a first section that is distal from the first portion and a second section that is proximate to the first portion, the first section of the member including a ferrous jacket surrounding a fluorocarbon elastomer core that includes a piece of the second section of the member;  
       an actuator moving the member from the first configuration to the second configuration, the actuator including an electromagnet and defining an aperture extending along the axis and generally receiving the second portion, the aperture being defined by:  
       a first segment generally guiding movement of the first section; and  
       a second segment generally guiding movement of the second section; and  
       a damper movable with respect to the actuator and located at a radial gap between the member and the actuator, the damper includes a resilient member located at the second section of the member, the resilient member includes a fluorocarbon elastomer material, and the resilient member and the core include a single homogeneous part.  
     
     
       12. The valve assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the actuator further comprises a ferrous stator on the axis and a ferrous washer interposed along the axis between the first and second segments of the aperture, and wherein the electromagnet produces lines of magnetic flux as the member moves toward the second configuration, the lines of magnetic flux include: 
       a first set of the lines extending generally parallel to the axis between the jacket and the stator; and  
       a second set of the lines extending generally radial to the axis between the second section of the member and the washer.  
     
     
       13. The valve assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the second set of lines pass through at least the resilient member. 
     
     
       14. A valve assembly for regulating a fluid flow, the valve assembly comprising: 
       a body having a passage extending between a first port and a second port;  
       a seat defining a portion of the passage;  
       a member movable with respect to the seat, the member moving generally along an axis between a first configuration prohibiting fluid flow through the seat and a second configuration permitting fluid flow through the seat, the member including:  
       a first portion adapted to sealingly engage the seat in the first configuration; and  
       a second portion extending along the axis between a first section that is distal from the first portion and a second section that is proximate to the first portion;  
       an actuator moving the member from the first configuration to the second configuration, the actuator defining an aperture extending along the axis and generally receiving the second portion, the aperture being defined by:  
       a first segment generally guiding movement of the first section; and  
       a second segment generally guiding movement of the second section; and  
       a damper movable with respect to the actuator and located at a radial gap between the member and the actuator, the damper and the first portion including a single homogeneous part, wherein the damper comprises a viscous fluid in the radial gap and the viscous fluid comprises a damping grease.